Natick's Lilja Elementary School principal is leaving

NATICK - Lilja Elementary School Principal Heather Smith is leaving her post this summer for a new job in Dedham.

On July 1, Smith will become Dedham Public Schools' preK-8 humanities curriculum coordinator, Smith wrote in a recent message to the school community.

"Leaving Lilja will be bittersweet," Smith wrote. "While I am excited about this new opportunity, I will miss many of the people I have grown to call my 'Lilja family' and, most of all, I will miss the students."

Smith highlighted a variety of school accomplishments, including building a zen meditation garden and installing solar energy.

Smith, who came to Lilja in 2013, said she has "tremendously enjoyed partnering with families to create innovative opportunities for our students. The support I’ve had from families over the years has been inspiring and I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for being such excellent partners in education."

Smith said she will help whomever the new principal is with the transition. Superintendent Peter Sanchioni will likely provide updates about the search, she wrote.

"There is much left to accomplish before the end of the school year and my new position does not begin until July 1st," she wrote. "Over the last few months, I’ve been working closely with the school department, facilities, and vendors to ensure that the modular expansion project goes smoothly. The entire project will be set into motion before I leave in order to set Lilja’s new principal up for success."

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